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Single trip travel insurance

Compare cheap single trip insurance quotes from as little as £6.29*

Cost-effective if you only need insurance for one trip
Covers holiday cancellations, luggage, emergency medical treatment and more
Compare up to 39 travel insurance companies¹

*The cheapest policy for a trip based on 1 adult aged 30, with no previous medical conditions travelling in Europe for 1 week. Correct as of August 2023.

1Correct as of August 2023.

We compare quotes from up to 39 travel insurance companies to find you our best deals

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What is single trip travel insurance

Single trip travel insurance covers one trip against cancellation, medical costs and lost or stolen personal belongings. The maximum length of trip you can take can vary depending on the insurer, so check the policy wording or contact the insurer directly before you buy.

It’s best to get travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your trip, whether it's abroad or in the UK. If you suddenly need to cancel your trip due to illness, for example, you can claim under the cancellations cover on your single trip travel insurance policy.

Leave it too late and you risk having to cancel your holiday without actually having any cover for cancellations in place. So at the very least, make sure you buy your single trip travel insurance before your day of departure.

If you’re planning to take a trip lasting between 1 and 12 months, you should look into backpackers travel insurance. This is particularly relevant if you’re visiting multiple countries.

If you’re going on more than one trip in a 12-month period, an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy might be a better option. It could be more convenient and cheaper than getting a separate single trip travel insurance policy for each trip you go on.

What does single trip travel insurance cover?

A typical single trip travel insurance policy offers:

Holiday cancellation cover: You’re protected if you can’t travel due to illness, certain changes in your personal circumstances or a change in Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice for your destination.
Luggage and personal possessions cover: This protects against the theft, loss or accidental damage of your belongings during your trip. Be aware your things usually aren't covered if you leave them unattended.
Emergency medical treatment: This covers the cost of any emergency medical treatment needed while you’re on holiday. It only covers immediate treatment and not anything that could wait until you get home.
Emergency repatriation: This covers return travel to the UK if injury or illness means you need to return early.
Covid cover: Our providers all offer emergency medical treatment and repatriation (bringing you back to the UK) for Covid-19 claims. Many also offer further Covid-19 related cover such as holiday cancellations, accommodation costs and denied boarding. Check the details carefully as different providers offer different policy enhancements.

Single trip travel insurance usually doesn't cover:

Treatment for pre-existing medical conditions that you have when you buy your travel insurance, including things like cancer, stroke and diabetes. If you need cover for a pre-existing condition, consider a medical travel insurance policy.
Travelling against Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice. For example, if the FCDO has advised it’s unsafe to travel to a certain country or region, you won’t be covered if you go anyway. Check the latest FCDO advice on the destination before your trip.
Skiing or extreme sports aren't covered as standard, but you can add cover for an extra cost. You can also get adventure travel insurance to cover extreme sports like rock climbing.
Natural disasters and terrorism may not be covered, so check the policy wording or contact your insurer if you’re unsure.
Claims caused by drinking alcohol or taking drugs.

If you're travelling in the UK, you can still buy travel insurance. But certain conditions may apply, like where you’re going and how long you’re away for. If you’re going somewhere close to home, an insurer may not provide cover.

Optional extras to enhance your cover

Depending on the type of holiday you’re planning and who you get your insurance with, extra cover you could get includes:

Winter sports cover: Standard travel insurance doesn't normally cover this as there are additional risks involved, but some insurers offer it as additional cover. Levels of cover can vary with each policy, so check the policy documents carefully before you buy.
Cruise cover: With cruise cover add-on you're insured for cabin confinement, missed ports, unused excursions and emergency airlift to hospital.
Gadgets cover: You could get up to £1,000 cover towards the cost of replacing your laptop, phone and other gadgets if they're lost, stolen or damaged while on holiday.
Business cover: Offers extra cover that’s specifically suited for business trips. It covers things like laptops, business phone, alternative travel arrangements, and golf clubs.

Be aware that any additional cover you add to your policy will increase the price, so only add the cover you might need.

What are the benefits of single trip travel insurance compared to an annual multi-trip policy?

While an annual multi-trip policy can be better value for money for frequent travellers, there are some situations where single trip travel insurance might be a better option:

You don’t travel often: If you take one trip a year, it's often cheaper to buy single trip travel insurance for 1-2 weeks at a time than an annual multi-trip policy.
You can tailor single trip travel insurance to the trip you’re taking
You can choose the exact destination at the time of booking: Single trip travel insurance customers can choose the destination for their cover as they know exactly where they're going. With an annual policy, you'd need to choose from regional or worldwide cover for the whole year.
It can work better for older travellers: Annual multi-trip insurance products often exclude people over the age of 75.

Travelling with a pre-existing medical condition

A pre-existing medical condition is an illness or condition you know about before you buy your travel insurance policy. These conditions could include:

High blood pressure
Diabetes
Cancer
Stroke
Heart conditions
Respiratory conditions
Terminal illnesses

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you can still use our site to get a quote. Some insurers might only offer insurance at a much higher price, while others might not cover you if you:

Have a serious medical condition
Are waiting for an operation
Are currently having treatment

If you can’t find suitable cover, the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) has set up a directory of insurers who cover customers with pre-existing medical conditions through their brand MoneyHelper

You can find the directory of insurers on the MoneyHelper website or you can phone MaPS for free impartial advice on 0800 138 7777.

You must tell your insurer about any health issues to make sure they can cover you. If you don’t and need to make a claim, there’s a risk it could be rejected. If in doubt, get in touch with the insurer before buying.

How much is single trip travel insurance?

You can get single trip travel insurance from as little as £6.29* if you don’t have any pre-existing medical conditions, and from £6.67* if you do.

Here’s the average price for a 1-week policy covering a trip to some popular global destinations:

Destination	Average price for a 1 week policy*
Spain	£6.29
USA	£18.20
UAE	£9.29
Egypt	£18.20
UK	£9.45

The exact cost of single trip holiday insurance varies depending on:

How long you're away for
Where you're going
What level of cover you need
Who you’re travelling with
The age of those travelling
If any travellers have pre-existing medical conditions

*The cheapest policy for a trip based on 1 adult aged 30, with no previous medical conditions travelling for 1 week. August 2023.

What our travel insurance expert says

"When you’re considering buying single trip travel insurance, it’s best to buy it as soon as possible after booking your holiday. That way you’re covered if something happens and you need to cancel your trip.

Don’t leave it too late to buy – you can’t buy travel insurance for a trip you’ve already started."

Matthew Harwood Home & lifestyle insurance expert

What do I need to compare single trip travel insurance quotes?

Getting a quote only takes 2 minutes. To get started, fill in our quote form. We need a few details, such as:

Your destination
The start and return date of your trip
Details about you and any others travelling with you
If you or anyone travelling with you have any pre-existing medical conditions
If you want any additional cover like gadget, cruise, winter sports or business

We’ll then compare up to 39 travel insurance companies¹ to help you find the right policy at the right price. You’ll get a list of quotes to choose from, with the different amounts of cover and the excess you’ll need to pay if you have to claim.

It's important to answer questions honestly when getting a travel insurance quote or making a claim. If you don’t, your claim could be rejected or your policy cancelled, and you’d be left without cover.

¹Correct as of August 2023.

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How can I get cheaper single trip travel insurance?

Here are some easy ways you could get cheaper single trip travel insurance:

Don’t wait to buy your single trip travel insurance as you may find the cost will go up. It’s better to take out your travel insurance when you book your trip so you’re covered for cancellations.

Choose a higher excess if you can. This is the amount you'll pay towards any claim, so make sure you can afford to pay it if something goes wrong.

Compare quotes from a range of insurers to help you get the best deal on single trip travel insurance for your circumstances.

You might also want to consider multi-trip cover if you plan to travel a lot in the next 12 months. If you take multiple trips in a year, this type of insurance could work out cheaper than single trip travel insurance.

Do I still need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)?

You can still use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if it hasn’t already expired. If you don’t have an EHIC, you can fill out a free application for its replacement, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). The GHIC gives you state healthcare in most European countries for the same amount as citizens of that country would pay.

Your EHIC or GHIC isn’t a replacement for travel insurance, as it doesn’t offer the other cover travel insurance gives you, but you should still take it with you.

Important information

All insurance products exclude cover for 'known events'. If you're buying travel insurance to cover a known event such as the current wildfires in Greece, you won't be covered if they're already known when you buy the policy.

If you travel against the advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) or fail to comply with your destination's entry requirements, you won't be covered by any travel insurance you buy.

Why compare travel insurance with Confused.com?

We're regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as are all of the travel insurance companies we work with. This means you can be certain that we do things the right way for you, following strict guidelines.

We're 100% independent. This means we're not owned by any insurance company, so the prices you see are the best available based on your information, not who they're from.

We value your privacy and security, and we promise to look after your personal details. Read more about our security and privacy policy.

UK-based customer support from our team in Cardiff. If you need help, visit our contact page to get in touch.

What are the different types of travel insurance?

Activity travel insurance

will cover you if you’re planning an action-filled sports trip.

Backpackers travel insurance

covers you for travel in multiple locations over a 12-month period.

Business travel insurance

covers you for any business-related trips.

Cruise travel insurance

helps you compare policies tailored for those who love to go on cruises.

Annual travel insurance

is the perfect option if you plan on traveling more than once a year.

Family travel insurance

means you can get one policy that covers everyone, rather than buying individual policies.

Over 50's travel insurance

allows you to easily get a quote for travellers over the age of 50.

Pregnancy travel insurance

helps provide peace of mind for any unexpected problems while away.

Ski travel insurance

is a specialist winter sports policy that covers you against slope injuries.

Page last reviewed: 16 August 2023

Reviewed by: Matthew Harwood

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